German House Rebuild - DIY Chatroom

shumakerscott · 07-09-2008, 05:53 PM

I have began taking down the chimineys. One is very old and has come down pretty easy, no cement in the mortar. It was packed full of soot and crud that was at least 2ft deep inside. It collected water like a sponge and transfered it to the inside walls. The 2nd is much newer with cement in the mortar, much harder to get down. I think the big jack hammer from above is the way to finish it off. Here are a couple of pics of the easy, old chiminey. When I start over it will be just a shell. My friends think I'm crazy!

JohnDIY · 07-10-2008, 10:13 AM

Looks like it came down easy!

concretemasonry · 07-10-2008, 11:03 AM

Scott -

Are those walls in the home built from "gas concrete" (Ytong, Hebel, etc.)? The photos look might that be the wall (not fireplace) material

Just a question from a Schumacher (Luxembourg) to a Shumaker (German).

shumakerscott · 07-10-2008, 05:06 PM

We got the 2nd chiminey down today! I also started knocking the fill from in between the beams. I need to get the outside walls down to a flat level, under everything laid on top of them. They ran a beam on top of the original wall and set the rest of the roof and floor beams on it. Over the years crud has piled up and started rotting things. Look close and see the mess. I will keep you updated.

shumakerscott · 07-10-2008, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by concretemasonry

Scott -

Are those walls in the home built from "gas concrete" (Ytong, Hebel, etc.)? The photos look might that be the wall (not fireplace) material

Just a question from a Schumacher (Luxembourg) to a Shumaker (German).

They are normal red brick interior. It is Sandstone on the outer walls, thick. I might use Ytong on my raising of the upper walls, up 2 meters. I want a very good thermal brick on the upper story.
I am actually American, just been here since 1989. I am 1 of 3 "Shumakers" in the whole German phone book. My Ex-wife is one of them so it actually is 2. Not a common spelling over here. Check it out here if you have time to kill.
http://www.dastelefonbuch.de/

747 · 07-12-2008, 04:40 AM

gute Arbeit leisten

shumakerscott · 07-13-2008, 04:27 PM

As people have seen the roof off over the last week they all ask "Who is going to do the roof?" I answer with "ME" Their reaction is NO! you "MUST" hire a carpenter "Zimmerman". You simple American don't know about roofs! This is just the amunition I need to do it myself. I have done other roofs before but they don't know that. I'm being watched and judged every step. This is going to be fun! Today I met the man who made the staircase that is in the house right now, it is about 50 years old. It is very nice work but.... It will not work for me as I finish it out. For now I will leave it to finish the upstairs. Tuesday the backhoe shows up to dig the sewer trenches. Updates as things go along. SHU

shumakerscott · 07-15-2008, 02:08 PM

I have made it further the last 2 days. Old beams are coming down. I have gotten the top of the wall knocked down to where the new wall will begin. The old beams were so rotten I'm suprised it didn't just fall down. Water, sewer and electric are next. I will keep updates as things go along.

shumakerscott · 07-16-2008, 03:54 PM

I have gotten the rest of the roof beams down. Next is a few days of cleaning up of all the wood laying around. Then I will take the rest of the wood structure down. I hope on the weekend.

Yoyizit · 07-16-2008, 05:55 PM

That soot is probably a carcinogen.

Bitte, pas auf!

shumakerscott · 07-16-2008, 06:30 PM

Stinks bad too. Must be not good for the body. Good thing it is all going away, everthing except the outside walls. I am considered the crazy American by the neighbohrs. There is no way I can do it myself! The house was a bonus, I only paid the price for the property. Discounted at that. The house was too much work for anybody else. Knock it down and start over. I will let you all be the judge as things go along. DIY at it's best!

shumakerscott · 07-19-2008, 06:24 PM

Today I managed to get the 2nd floor and cross beams down. I also got all the upright beams cut up. Really got to look out for nails in these old beams. Dulls your chainsaw right away!

shumakerscott · 07-27-2008, 04:53 PM

I have gotten all the junk from the chimineys out. It was 3 shovels per bucket and 3 buckets per wheelbarrow load, alone! I have been told again and again that I must have help to do my walls and roof. I "MUST" have a "Meister" to do it. They will be blown away when this American guy shows them. I don't have the $$ to pay someone to do work for me. The 2 upper beams in the picture are 12 meters long, 40ft. I need to get them down. My plan is to pull them down to the inside, then cut to 7 and 5 meter lengths. My hands are as good as anybody's. Too bad my back is not. I only weigh 115lbs. I will post pictures as more interesting things happen. Thanks for following. SHU

Yoyizit · 07-27-2008, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shumakerscott

I only weigh 115lbs.

You might want to try this test.
I got 27 on it.
http://www.aolhealth.com/tools/weigh...bmi|2017908860

You might have bigger problems than this house.

I see on my computer that Rt. 299 passes through your place, and I guess Google Earth will show your house, as it was at the last Google Earth update.

shumakerscott · 07-27-2008, 06:19 PM

Yes 299 passes right in front of my house. VERY LOUD with traffic. My windows have 49db sound deadining. Jeez thanks. I have made it through a crappy divorce and everything else this far and now I'm going to die at a young age! You have really helped me to go on with my life. I am going to make it no matter what your survey says. If you would like to help then please come on over. I feed well. I will survive. BTW my sign is Taures.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yoyizit

You might want to try this test.
I got 27 on it.
http://www.aolhealth.com/tools/weigh...bmi|2017908860

You might have bigger problems than this house.

I see on my computer that Rt. 299 passes through your place, and I guess Google Earth will show your house, as it was at the last Google Earth update.